Can, bottle and rubbish container



March 1, 1960 P. w. BROWNE CAN, BOTTLE AND RUBBISH CONTAINER Filed Jan. 16, 1958 Paul W Browne INVENTOR.

' 1 BY @Mm wyfim i ed States Patent CAN, BOTTLE AND RUBBISH CONTAINER Paul W. Browne, Roodhouse, Ill., assignor of fifty-one percent to himself and John C. Andras, jointly, and forty-nine percent to Lloyd Martin and Frank A. Thomas, jointly, all of Winchester, Ill.

Application January 16, 1958, Serial No. 709,326

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-8) The present invention generally relates to a container and more particularly to a container for cans, bottles and other various types of rubbish which is equipped with an elongated handle and a pair of skids whereby the container may be pushed or pulled by the person employing the device or carried on the shoulder and emptied inthe nature of a shovel.-

It is well known that along the highways throughout the nation, motorists quite often throw rubbish, bottles, cans and the like from moving vehicles even though this is sometimes unlawful. In order to maintain the highways neat in appearance, it is necessary to pick up these containers and other rubbish. Inasmuch as the rubbish and containers are normally spaced apart a relatively great distance, it is difiicult to gather the containers or rubbish. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a container having skids thereon which makes the same mobile together with a handle therefor whereby the container may be pushed or pulled along a supporting surface whereby the rubbish, cans or bottles may be deposited therein. While the device has particular utility for cleaning areas alongside highways, it may be employed in any number of orientations such as in home use, gardening or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container having a forwardly disposed opening whereby any liquid in the container may be discharged by tilting the container forwardly.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a container in accordance with the preceding objects which is provided with replaceable skids and an optional axle and wheel assembly.

A further important feature of the present invention is to provide a container which is simple in construction, extremely easy to use, well adapted for its intended purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of construction of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the container with the wheel assembly mounted in position; and a Figure 4 is a partial front elevational view of th construction of Figure 3.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the container of the present invention which includes a vertical rear wall 12, a vertical front wall 14 and side walls 16 and 18 respectively. The container 10 is also provided with a bottom wall 20 all of which coact to form a vertically opening receptacle.

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The forward edge of the bottom wall 20 terminates in spaced relation to the front wall 14 and forms a transverse slot 22 for discharge of liquids from the container. The forward edge of the bottom wall 20 may be turned downwardly to define a flange 24 for purposes of reinforcement. The dimensions of the various walls may vary and the device may be constructed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like which will be sufficiently light in construction to permit the same to be readily handled. V

The bottom wall 20 is provided with a pair of transversely extending angle iron members 26 which are disposed adjacent the forward and rear edge thereof and detachably secured thereto by a plurality of fastening bolts 28. At each end of the angle iron members 26 is a skid member 30 in the form of an elongated rod having upwardly and inwardly curved terminal end portions 32 secured to the angle irons 26 as by welding or the like thus forming a rigid unit with the angle irons 26 reinforcing the skids 30 and the fastening bolts 28 permitting replacement thereof in the event of wear or damage.

Centrally disposed under the bottom 20 is a tubular member 34 secured thereto by fastening bolts 36. The tubular member 34 extends through an aperture 36 in the depending flange of the rear angle iron member 26 and then curves upwardly as indicated by the numeral 38 and extends rearwardly as designated by the numeral 40 for providing an elongated handle for the container 10. The tubular member 40 terminates at its outer end in a loop shaped handle 42 generally similar to the type of handle employed in a shovel. The upwardly curved portion 38 disposes the handle 40 above the horizontal plane of the center of gravity of the container 10 whereby the container 10 will be maintained in upright condition by gravity when the container 10 is lifted by using one hand on the loop shaped handle 42 and one hand on the tubular member 40 adjacent the curved portion 38 substantially in the same nature as a shovel. Reinforcing the handle is a tranverse angle iron member 44 on the rear surface of the rear wall 42 and a. pair of braces 46 extend from the angle member 42 to the upwardly curved portion 38 of the handle thus reinforcing the handle and forming'a rigid connection between the handle and rear wall.

Attached to the front edge 32 of each skid 30 is an offset clip or bracket 48 secured thereto by fastening means 50 whereby the clip or bracket 48 will fit down over an axle 52 having a wheel 54 on each end thereof whereby the container 10 may be converted from a sliding or skidding type of container to a container which is wheeled. The axle 52 is detached from the container 10 by merely lifting the container upwardly at which time the clips or brackets 48 will be disengaged from the axle 52.

The container having the structure set forth previously provides a device for pushing or pulling along a supporting surface and when the container is filled with cans, bottles or rubbish,.the operator may then lift the complete container to shoulder height if he wishes putting the handle of the container on the shoulder to convey it to a truck or any other conveyance and the self-righting feature of the container will prevent any possibility of the same turning over and spilling the contents. The device also permits discharge of any liquid that may be in the rubbish for reducing the weight thereof and also eliminating any possibility of such liquids being discharged onto the clothes of the operator.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shovel-like device for receiving rubbish over an enlarged ground area comprising a portable receptacle defined by upstanding walls and a flat bottom, said receptacle having an open upper end for receiving rubbish, an elongated handle connected to the bottom and extending rearwardly from the rear wall of the receptacle, said handle terminating in a loop-shaped hand grip whereby one hand may be placed on the handle adjacent the receptacle and the other hand placed on the hand grip when dumping the receptacle in the manner of a shovel, and wheel means carried by said receptacle adjacent the front end thereof for rolling engagement with a supporting surface, the bottom wall of the receptacle being provided with a transverse slot at the juncture with the forward wall for discharging liquid from the material in the container when the container is tilted forwardly, said handle being upwardly curved closely adjacent the rear of the receptacle whereby the normal point of supporting engagement of the handle by the one hand is disposed above the center of gravity of the receptacle so that the receptacle will be maintained in upright position when lifted and manipulated in the manner of a shovel, said receptacle being provided with downwardly opening clips at the forward end thereof, a transverse axle having said wheel means on each end thereof mounted in said clips.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is provided with a pair of generally elongated U -shaped skid members having inturned ends secured to the bottom of the receptacle, said clips being mounted on the forward ends of said skids and detachablymounting the axle whereby the axle and wheel means will be left on the ground surface when the receptacle is lifted and manipulated in the manner of the shovel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 390,661 Forsyth Oct. 9, 1888 634,267 Morgan Oct. 3, 1889 1,234,775 Kuster July3l, 1917 1,489,651 Wilson et a1. Apr. 8, 1924 2,040,339 Ross May 12, 1936 2,433,246 Stelzer Dec. 23, 1947 2,780,476 Upchurch Feb. 5, 1957 

